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5th Grade October Math Adventure- Case of the Computer Coder
The Baffled Bungler borrowed the History Hacker’s time machine again, and this time when he gets back, the internet isn’t working!! Turns out, when he went back in time, he distracted one of the world’s best computer coders, and the internet was never invented!! The Learning League is here to save the day!! It’s up to you and the League to solve the mystery by answering math problems and figuring out which coder the Bungler messed with. This Math Adventure will keep your classroom explorers engaged and working hard on math skills, while learning some science!
Also available for 3rd and 4th grade.
WHO is this mystery for?
Students on the 5th grade level who are practicing these math skills:
Comparing Decimals (hundredths)
Read Complex Graphs
2D Shape Statements
Divide 3 Digit by 1 Digit
Understanding Coordinate Planes
Teachers looking for a quick-prep, rigorous but differentiated, interdisciplinary activity that showcases topics that are often ignored or unexplored within social studies and science curriculum.
WHAT is included?
This adventure is an hour-long activity that can be completed in 3 Tracks:
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on Google Slides, which they can access with a QR code or link on a computer, tablet, or phone.
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on printed task cards.
Students read the mystery in one browser window of Google Slides, and they solve the clues by toggling between another browser window of Google Slides to answer questions. This method works great for laptops, but is not recommended for tablets.
No matter which track you take, the core of the activity is the same. Students always have access to the mystery story, 41 math problems, 5 Social Studies Exploration posters, a Writing Challenge, and an integral poster about:
Ada Lovelace, Bill Gates, Grace Hopper, Katherine Johnson, & Steve Jobs
Students will walk away from this lesson knowing these science concepts:
- What coding is and what technology uses it
- Why learning coding can prepare you to solve problems faced in certain jobs
- How students can learn to code and where to practice for free
- and more!!
WHEN is it designed to be completed?
These skills are best practiced in October because the second Tuesday of this month is Ada Lovelace Day!
WHERE can students solve this mystery?
Students can complete this activity in your classroom with pen and paper or technology, and even from home, thanks to the Digital Track!
HOW can this activity be differentiated?
Using either of these methods, you can scaffold these activities to meet each of your students, exactly where they’re at.
CUSTOMIZATION: great for students above and below grade level
Each math problem can be edited to whatever you please! Hypothetically, you could buy this mystery for the framework it provides, and change every single question.
AUDIO SUPPORTS: great for multilingual students
For the tracks including technology, your students have access to a read-aloud of not just the story, but each word written on Google Slides.
WHY should your students adventure with the Learning League?
Low teacher prep/High student engagement
Anti-racist curriculum that uplifts women and Black and Indigenous people of color
Three activity tracks with DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION
Audio scaffolding and editable problems
TRY OUT A MYSTERY FOR FREE!
Download The Oil Spill Mystery for math and The Case of the Absent Abolitionist for reading.
Adventure also available on TeachersPayTeachers!